Black Dagger Brotherhood Reading Order
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward is still ongoing. Here are the 6 books we cover, in order.
Last updated
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn't change what we recommend. How we make money.
Reading order
-
1. Dark Lover
Book 1
Leather-clad vampire warriors in Caldwell, NY, and the human-ish reporter one of them claims. Pure 2005, slang and all, and still addictive.
- Vampires
- Fated Mates
- Possessive Hero
- Found Family
Content warnings
Graphic violence, Murder
-
2. Lover Eternal
Book 2
Rhage, the charming Brother cursed with a beast inside him, falls for Mary, a human who's quietly dealing with a serious illness. More emotional than Dark Lover, and a fan favorite.
- Vampires
- Fated Mates
- Possessive Hero
- Curses
Content warnings
Graphic violence, Murder
-
3. Lover Awakened
Book 3
Zsadist's book, and for a lot of readers the best in the series. He was a blood slave for a century and Bella is the first person to get close. Dark and very tender in the same breath.
- Vampires
- Possessive Hero
- Fated Mates
- Morally Gray
Content warnings
Sexual assault, Physical or emotional abuse, Self-harm, Kidnapping, Torture, Human trafficking
-
4. Lover Revealed
Book 4
Butch, the human cop who's been hanging around the Brotherhood, finally gets his shot with Marissa. Love it or not, his transformation is a big deal for the rest of the series.
- Vampires
- Forbidden Love
- Fated Mates
Content warnings
Torture, Graphic violence, Drug or alcohol abuse
-
5. Lover Unbound
Book 5
Vishous, the prickly genius of the Brotherhood, and Jane, a human trauma surgeon. Kinkier than the earlier books and darker in V's backstory. The ending is divisive.
- Vampires
- Morally Gray
- Fated Mates
- Forbidden Love
Content warnings
Graphic violence, Physical or emotional abuse, Harm to children, Torture
-
6. Lover Enthroned
Book 24
Book twenty-four, and Ward is still going. A computer genius and a princess stuck choosing between duty and each other. You know exactly what you're getting with BDB by now, and this delivers it.
- Vampires
- Forbidden Love
- Possessive Hero
Content warnings
Graphic violence, Murder
